The Hunger (1983)
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The story
Miriam Blaylock is a vampire who promises eternal life to humans chosen as her lovers. Her current companion, John, a talented cellist, begins to suffer from rapid aging despite her promises. Seeking a cure for his accelerating decrepitude, John approaches Dr. Sarah Roberts, a gerontology researcher. Sarah initially dismisses John as delusional, but after witnessing his rapid decay, she offers her assistance. Meanwhile, Miriam continues her life of feeding on victims in New York City, posing as a wealthy couple who teach classical music while disposing of their prey in a basement incinerator.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
Miriam Blaylock, a vampire who has lived for centuries, lives in a New York townhouse with her lover John, a cellist who is rapidly aging despite her promise of immortality. John seeks out Dr. Sarah Roberts, a gerontology researcher, to stop his decay. After John murders a student named Alice to regain his youth and fails, he begs Miriam to kill him, but she refuses. Sarah eventually meets Miriam and, after a sexual encounter where Miriam bites her, Sarah becomes infected with vampire blood. As Sarah's blood begins to transform, she is repulsed by the idea of subsisting on humans. However, starving and desperate, she eventually kills and feeds on Sarah's boyfriend, Tom. Sarah then drives Miriam's ankh knife into her own throat, forcing Miriam to ingest her blood. A rumbling occurs, and the mummies of Miriam's previous lovers emerge from their coffins, driving Miriam over the balcony. As Miriam ages rapidly, the mummies turn to dust. The film ends with Sarah in London, standing on a balcony in the Barbican Estate, while Miriam's voice continues to cry out from a coffin.
- First release year
- 1983
- Runtime (minutes)
- 97
- Production countries
- United States; United Kingdom
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Tony Scott
- Writers
- Ivan Davis · screenplay; Michael Thomas · screenplay
- Cast and characters
- Catherine Deneuve · Miriam Blaylock; David Bowie · John; Susan Sarandon · Dr. Sarah Roberts; Cliff De Young; Willem Dafoe · youth; John Pankow · youth; John Stephen Hill · wild young couple; Ann Magnuson · wild young couple
- Genres
- erotic horror; supernatural horror
- Themes
- immortality vs. eternal youth; addiction; power; desire
- Tone and mood
- erotic; gothic; stylish; melodramatic
- Premise and plot tags
- vampire; gerontology; immortality; transformation
- Source material / true-story basis
- 1981 novel of the same name by Whitley Strieber
- Franchise connections
- inspired a short-lived TV series of the same name
- Reception
- The film received a mixed critical response, characterized by praise for its visual style and atmosphere but criticism for its pacing and plot. It has since accrued a cult following within the goth subculture.
- Awards and nominations
- Saturn Awards · Best Costume · Nominated; Saturn Awards · Best Make-up · Nominated
- Production trivia
- The final scene was added at the studio's behest to leave the film open-ended for possible sequels.; The film was influenced by the creation of the gothic subculture magazine Propaganda.; The film inspired a short-lived TV series with no direct plot or character connection.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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